To excavate symbols and their meanings in Indian art, one has to travel back thousands of years in history. It is extremely difficult to assign a date when these symbols and decorative Indian art designs came into existence. However, with the study of Indian literature and ancient Indian art, one can conjecture and study fascinating patterns that emerge through these. When the early man had discovered the essentials of civilization, such as sand, bricks, walls, wheel etc, he started using and depicting them in paintings in caves. The symbols that were used as a means of communication are also manifested on these wall paintings. These very symbols came to be used as the pictographs later from which emanated the alphabets. The entire cosmos was a mystery for the pre historic man. He used symbols for the sun, the moon and other natural phenomenon of nature.

The period of Indus Valley Civilization is considered by all art historians as the first significant chapter in the history of India. The objects of art that were discovered from the Indus have most important symbols and decorative designs of Hindu art. Some of these are the square form of seals, nine Peepal leaves, various Gods, the elephant and the bull etc. There were many decorative designs and symbols that were used in pottery which have continued to exist till date. The reason for this continuity of artistic and cultural tradition continues to exist through the oral tradition with information being passed from generations to generations.